Chris had always had a difficult relationship with his father. He didn't quite know why at first. Maybe It was just the fact that they couldn't find anything to bond over, whilst he could always find something to do with Allison, Theo, or his mother. Chris had normally felt distant from him and It was only made worse when Travis had decided that the whole family thing was too much for him and left at the drop of a hat Immediately after him and Eliza got divorced. Now, Chris lived with his mother and siblings and resented his father with a burning passion.

It wasn't too long before Travis had met someone new. Chris didn't care to get to know her or the kids she had. All he knew was that her name was Madison and that she was a guidance counselor. He found that out during the weekends where he'd regularly go see his father and where Allison was too busy doing her own thing to go with him. In other words, she just found better excuses to skip those days while Eliza made Chris go no matter the lazy things he'd try to come up with to get out of It. Chris knew It wasn't fair, but at least Theo normally came along or Erin would show up to the house with some food to break the tension.

Chris had known Erin for as long as he could remember. She was well-respected In the Manawa household. However, It wasn't because she followed most rules or always used her manners, but because she made Chris happy and vice versa. Eliza loved her and even Travis thought she was a good Influence on him, not that Chris would care about his opinion these days.

The two were actually sitting In Chris' room on his bed, going through old photos that Chris had taken since he had a knack for photography as well as filmography, though he loved doing the latter more than the former. Erin held up an older picture and smiled softly. “Look at this one. Your hair was so much shorter then.”

Chris glanced up at the photo and scrunched his face up In disgust. His hair had been buzzed due to the fact that Erin had accidently gotten gum In his hair. “Ugh, that was not my best look. I totally still blame you for that by the way.”

Erin dropped her jaw and gasped as If she had just gotten Insulted. “That was not my fault and you know It!” She said, smacking his shoulder. Chris tried shielding himself from her hit, but ultimately failed. “Ow! You're the one who spit your gum on me!”

“It's not my fault It just so happened to land In your hair!” Chris chuckled and shook his head. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that.”

Erin rolled her eyes with a slight smile on her face before both of their smiles fell as they heard Theo talking on the phone with what sounded like Travis based on what was being said, which seemed to be something about Nick, Madison's oldest son. The two glanced at each other before Theo ultimately came In without knocking and handed the phone off to him. “Here. Dad wants to talk to you.”

Chris looked at him with a confused, yet annoyed, look. “What the hell for?” Theo crossed his arms. “It's about Nick. He got hit by a car and he's In the hospital. Dad wants you to visit him.”

Erin's eyes widened as she looked up at the eldest Manawa brother. “Is he okay? Is It bad?”

Theo shook his head. “He's got a few busted ribs, but other than that, he should be fine.”

Chris rolled his eyes and put the phone up to his ear. “I don't wanna come.” He simply stated to his father. “Chris, come on. He'd do the same for you.” Travis pleaded, causing Chris to stand up, already Irritated. “No, he wouldn't have to be there for me. Not like that. He's not my brother and he's not my friend either, so stop pretending like he Is. I'm not going.” He then handed the phone back to Theo and walked out of his room and Into the kitchen, causing Erin to follow him, grabbing her bag as she did.

Chris noticed this and Immediately put the pieces together. “Don't tell me you're going to see him?” Erin sighed, shrugging on her jacket as she did. “Chris, I know how you feel about him, but your friends know him, I know him, and Allison and Theo know him. You don't have to like him, but you do have to put up with the fact that the people you care about do. So yeah, I'm gonna go see him and I'm pretty sure Allison's already on the way there, right?” She asked, glancing at Theo for confirmation. He nods and Erin looks back at Chris. “See? Nick's part of the fold now. You don't have to like It, but you've gotta accept It at some point. Now, I'll see you later, okay?”

Chris shook his head. “Fine...” Erin gave him and Theo a small smile as a goodbye and then headed out of the door. It was silent for a moment before It was broken by Theo. “She's right, man.”

Chris glanced at him. “I know. That's what I hate.”

~ 𝑬𝒏𝒅 𝑶𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 ~